The increasing competitiveness in the e-business sector and the improvement of the internal efficiency through e-government may be fundamental tools in stimulating the creation of new economic activities and, simultaneously, in contributing to the strengthening of innovation in Madeira.

This suggestion was made by Willem Mole, senior adviser of the ECORYS Nederland, during the conference organized by S.D.M. in the end of October, in Funchal, under the theme “Madeira, Present and Future: the challenge of development”.

During the two days of the event, the speakers of the conference debated several concrete proposals and ideas about the strategies and the paths which Madeira could follow in order to prepare its future and take part in the global economy.

During the opening remarks the President of the Regional Government, Mr. Alberto João Jardim, stressed that Madeira must face the new challenges ahead in a very determined manner. Alberto João Jardim, speaking about Madeira’s economic development, sustained that the International Business Centre of Madeira “is a structure which is an important tool within the regional development policy” and “a structure indispensable for the modernization and diversification of the island’s small and fragile economy”.

The presentation of case-studies from other small and dynamic economies, such as Luxemburg, Malta, The Isle of man and Singapore, was an opportunity to analyse and learn how these particular cases surpassed their own difficulties and to obtain the necessary information to plan future strategies in order to respond to the constant and new challenges of a global economy.

The presentations and the debates, which took place in the conference, made it clear that Madeira needs to reinforce its presence worldwide, using the tools which it already has at its disposal, such as the International Business Centre and the Tourism industry. This aspect was strongly stressed by the Vice-President of the Regional Parliament. Mr. Miguel de Sousa, stressed that “all the required conditions must be created in order to assure the competitiveness of Madeira’s IBC as well as the necessary stability to attract international investors”.